Published at 1:55 PM CDT on Apr 28, 2016

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GLENDALE, AZ - JANUARY 01: Running back Ezekiel Elliott #15 of the Ohio State Buckeyes rushes the football during the second half of the BattleFrog Fiesta Bowl at University of Phoenix Stadium on January 1, 2016 in Glendale, Arizona. The Ohio State Buckeyes beat the Notre Dame Fighting Irish 44-28. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Hall of Fame receiver and Dallas Cowboys legend Michael Irvin has been vocal for much of the offseason about his desire to see his old team draft Ohio State running back Ezekiel Elliott with the No. 4 overall pick on Thursday night.

So it was no surprise that in an appearance on 105.3-FM The Fan on Wednesday, the day before the draft, Irvin was campaigning for the reigning Graham-George Offensive Player of the Year.

“… I’m telling you, the Dallas Cowboys have to right here, right now, go get Ezekiel Elliott and make all the difference in the world,” Irvin said, per the Dallas Morning News. “He is the one person that will protect Tony Romo, since we're all worried about that. He will protect Tony Romo and he will give us what we need and that is touchdowns. … This is a huge moment for them. They got to get this kid right now."

No running back has been drafted in the Top 5 since Trent Richardson in 2012 (and that didn’t really work out), but Irvin doesn’t buy the idea that you should never draft a runner so high.

“… Certain guys are worthy of it. You just gotta go get those certain guys. Emmitt Smith, worthy of it. And this kid has those kind of skills. And we're wasting a great offensive line if we don't get the rest of it and make sure they get to show the people who they are."